NEW WINDSOR, NY – Ten brave New York Army National Guard Soldiers were formally honored with the Purple Heart on May 10, 2025, in a solemn ceremony held at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. The award recognizes U.S. military service members who are wounded or killed in combat, and this group earned the decoration following a harrowing drone attack on January 28, 2024, at Tower 22, a military outpost in Jordan.
Remembering the Attack on Tower 22
Tower 22, a strategic U.S. base near the Jordan-Syria border, was targeted in a deadly drone strike that left three U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers dead and injured more than 40 others. Among those wounded were ten National Guard Soldiers from Charlie Company of the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, stationed there to maintain essential communications equipment.
The drone struck a section of the base where Soldiers were housed, and many sustained concussions, shrapnel injuries, and other trauma. Despite the chaos and their injuries, many of the Soldiers jumped into action to assist others, stabilize communications, and save lives.
A Ceremony of Recognition and Remembrance
The Purple Heart medals were presented by Lt. Col. Darren Ketchum, commander of the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion. Major General Raymond Shields, Adjutant General of New York, was also in attendance to honor the recipients.
“This decoration is not sought, and it’s not given lightly,” said Ketchum. “It is earned through courage in the face of danger. Today, we recognize those who stood firm when faced with the harshest realities of combat.”
He praised the Soldiers for their resilience, stating that even after being wounded, they continued to perform their duties with “the highest standards of duty, courage, and resilience.”
The Honorees
The following Soldiers were recognized and awarded the Purple Heart:
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Staff Sgt. David Barrientos, Zebulon, NC
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Sgt. Anthony Gist, Floral Park, NY
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Sgt. Ryan Kissoon, Richmond Hill, NY
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Sgt. Guillermo Renderos, Yonkers, NY
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Sgt. Jarvis Ho So, Brooklyn, NY
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SPC Christian Tiburcio, Manhattan, NY
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SPC Matthew Crespo, Brooklyn, NY
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SPC Domingo Perez, Brooklyn, NY
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SPC Junior Clarke, Brooklyn, NY
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SPC Michael Branch, Brooklyn, NY
One of the honorees, Sgt. Ryan Kissoon, spoke about the emotional weight of receiving the medal.
“I am honored to have received the medal, but it’s never an award we wanted to get,” he said. “It’s a sad relief we made it home that day, and others didn’t.”
Kissoon recalled a moment with Chaplain Major Chase Williams, who reminded him,
“‘We are all from different parts of the country, but we will forever be bonded by blood.’”
Heroism Beyond the Blast
According to 1st Lt. Ian Gallagher, platoon leader of Charlie Company, the blast was so powerful that the Soldiers’ living quarters were “crinkled like a soda can.” Yet, amidst the devastation, the team displayed extraordinary courage.
Those not severely injured began rebuilding communications systems, crucial for coordinating medical support and security efforts. The unit’s combat lifesavers, despite their own injuries, rushed to aid others. Meanwhile, uninjured Soldiers lined up to donate blood, helping save lives in the aftermath.
Their actions prevented further loss and ensured mission continuity—an extraordinary testament to their training, discipline, and selflessness.
A Team Hand-Selected for the Mission
Capt. Paul Kramarz, the C Company commander, emphasized that the Soldiers stationed at Tower 22 were specifically chosen for this mission due to their expertise and reliability.
“These Soldiers from Charlie Company were a hand-selected team. We knew they would operate at the far reaches of our area of responsibility,” said Kramarz. “They lived up to that trust and more.”
Tower 22 was home to approximately 350 U.S. service members, many of them supporting reconnaissance and special operations across the region. Charlie Company’s role in keeping the base connected to the outside world was essential to ongoing operations.
Honoring History at a Historic Site
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, where the ceremony took place, has deep historical roots. Originally established to preserve the legacy of the award, the Hall is located in New Windsor — the same location where General George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit in 1782, the precursor to today’s Purple Heart.
Since its reintroduction in the 1930s, the Purple Heart has come to symbolize the ultimate sacrifice and the wounds borne in defense of the nation. The stories of these ten Guardsmen are now enshrined among 1.2 million Purple Heart recipients across U.S. history.
A Lifetime of Recognition and Support
In addition to the honor of receiving the medal, Purple Heart recipients gain lifelong benefits, including:
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Priority medical treatment at Veterans Affairs hospitals
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Hiring preference for federal employment
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Access to military commissaries and exchanges
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Forever GI Bill benefits, which allow education assistance without time limits
These resources serve as a nation’s promise to care for its wounded warriors.
Final Reflections
The courage displayed by these ten Soldiers in the face of a deadly enemy attack stands as a powerful example of military valor. While the wounds they carry are lasting reminders of that day, so too is their commitment to one another, their mission, and their country.
The Purple Heart Ceremony not only honored individual acts of heroism but also reinforced the enduring spirit of the American Soldier—a bond forged not just in service, but in sacrifice.
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